Cap



April 10, 1945.

T. w. JOHNSON CAP Filed Jan. '7, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l 3 m Ina/072725072 April 10, 1945. T. w. JOHNSON CAP Filed Jan. 7, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 10, 1945. T. w. JOHNSON CAP Filed Jan. 7, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 -April 10, 1945. T, w JO NSON 2,373,399

CAP

Filed Jan. 7, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 10, 1945 CAP Theron W. Johnson, EayPines, Fla Application January '7, 1943,.Serial No. 471,597" I .9 Claims. ('01. 2-195) i .Thisinvention relates to cloth caps. v v An object of this invention is to provide an improved cap which can be formed from a single blank piece'of cloth.

v Another object of this invention is to provide a cap which is designed for the armedforces,

either military, naval, air or other branches of the service, and which will retain its shape more readily than the caps now in use. U r

A further object of this invention isto provide a cap which has'the'general appearance of caps at present in use, but which can be constructed.

at a material saving in time,labor and material.

A'further object of this invention is to provide a cap of this kind which can be Worn inside a helmet, and can be adapted for use in different climates without change in construction. A further object of this invention is to provide a cap of this kind which is an all-purpose cap for the armed forces and can "be folded ,intoa small compact package for placement inside a helmet when not in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method of constructing a cloth cap which will eliminate unnecessary labor and reduce waste to a minimum.

To the above objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it isto be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the in- I vention, as claimed.

In the drawings: 1 Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a cloth cap constructed according to an embodiment of this invention;

I Figure 2 is a detail front elevation of the cap; I Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of the cap with the rim turned down;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the'line 4-4 of'Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the cap turned inside out;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of ear muif construction attached to the rim:

Figure '7 is a plan view of the blank from which the cap is made and showing the initial steps in forming the cap; I

Figure 7a is a fragmentary sectional view taken Ion the line la-1a ofFigure 7 Figure 9 is a detail side elevation of a. further step in the construction of the cap; and j Figures 10 to .13 inclusive show additional successive steps in the construction of the cap. y,

Referring to the drawings and first to'Figures v TtO 13 inclusive, the numeral l '5 designates generally the crown portion of the cap and the numeral 16 designates generally the rim portion of the cap. The crown portion I5, as shown in Figure 7, is initially formed of substantially frustro-triangular configuration being provided with upwardly convergent opposite end portions l1, and atruncated top portion IS. The rim l6 is constructed integrally with the base of the crown portion I5, and comprises a rimbody l9 and wing members 20 at the opposite ends of the body '19 which project beyond the inclined ends H of the crown l5.

The wings 20 have an arcuate outer edge 2! and a straight inner edge 22.

The first step of the formation of the cap after the cloth has been cut to the pattern or configuration shown in Figure '7 is to fold the top edge "l8 inwardly and then stitch, as at 23, along a line parallel with the top edge l8. The stitching 23' forms'a bead 24 which is adapted to extend from the front to the rear of the completed cap.

That portion '25, projecting beyond the bead 24,

provide apleat, as will be hereinafter described. The outer edge of the rim member I6 is folded inwardly, as at 26, and a braid 21 is then stitched by a double row of stitching 28 to the folded por- The next step in the construction of thecap is to fold the crown l5 over the rim I6 along the 'line29. The overlying crown I5 is then stitched to the adjacent edge of the rim l6 by pairs of upwardly convergent lines of stitching 30 and 3|. The unstitched portion 32, between the convergent ends of the stitchings 30 and'3l, constitute a bellows or, distortable crown portion which will permit the shaping of the cap to the configuration of the head. After the stitchings 30 and 3| have been made, the crown l5 and the rim it are cut, as indicated at 33, on a line co-planar with the edge 22 of the wing". The cuts 33 terminate at their inner ends closely adjacent the outer or lower ends of the outermost stitchings 30 and 3 l-. The crown 1 MS then folded back to its original position and of the rim l6.

which is open at each end to permitthe' insertion;

the entire piece of material is then folded upon itself with the two wings 20 overlapping each the crown IS. The flaps 39, which are formed by the cuts- 33, are then stitched by a line of stitching 4D, to

the adjacent end of the crown--l5. The .Wings are now brought together in overlapping position and are stitched to the inner portion of the rim lliby a line of stitching 4|. stitching 4! is placed at a point where it will underlie the sweat band 42 which is stitched to the lower end of the crown:- l5 by stitchings 43 and. 44.

The sweat band 42 isadapted to overlie the ends of the wings 2B-as shown more clearly in Figure 5. The sweat band 42Iis preferably secured to the lower end of the crown '15 on a longitudinally curved line, as shown at .45 in'Figure 7, so that The 'line of I when the cap is in applied'position the sweat band a will be in a straight line on the head. After the sweat band 42 hasbeen stitched to the cap" the front and rear ends of the cap are stitched together by stitchings 46 and 41 respectively, which extend through theright side of the cap and form flattened front and rear portions which serve to stiffen the peaks formed by the front and rear ofthecap. m

The cap may be providedwith a visor which,

under normal conditions, may be hidden beneath,

the rim IS. The visor, generally designated as 48, is constructed in the form of a flexible piece of material 49 which is cut to the desired configuration and is then stitched as by stitching 50 to the adjacent or inner edge of the rim IS. The material 49 is then folded uponitself and stiffening material insertedbetweenjthe foldedsides ofthe material 49 whereupon the fre edges of the material 49 are stitched together, as by stitching 51'. In the normal wearing of the cap the visor 48 will be reverted from the position shown in Figure 13,- extending upwardly and forming, a stiffening element for the rear peak of the cap.

When it is "desired to use the cap with, the

visor, the cap is turnedfrom front to rear. and also turned inside out thereby .position'ing'the visor 48 on the inner or lower 'side of the rim IS. The visor 48, in this position, serves to hold the rim of the cap outwardly and away from the forehead of the wearer.

The cap, as shown in Figures 3 and4, be

provided with ear muffs and for this purpose the rim l6 has stitchedto one side thereof, and preferably to the inner side, a rectangular piec of material 52 which is stitched as at 53 and 54 to the rim IS. The opposite ends of the 'mufi cover 52 are open and a suitable padding55 maybe in serted between the cover 52 and the adjacent face The cover 52 constitutes a pocket or removal of the padding 55. v I

In Figure 6 there is disclosedlaslightly modified form of ear muff construction wherein'a' pair of narrow straps 56 are stitched to the innerf'side of the rim: l6, and an ear, muff element 51, which may be in the form of tufted material or a small material thereby effecting'a material saving in material and also in labor, these two items affecting the cost of the cap. A cap constructed according to this invention will have upwardly projecting peaks at the front and rear thereof, above the rim [6, and the provision of the bellows portion 32 will permit more closely shaping of the cap to the head than is possible in caps of similar construction at present available.

This cap will, in worn position, have substantialy a straight line from front to rear atthe upper ends of the front and rear'peaks and the front and rear ends of the caps will extend upwardly in a divergent, position from the front to the rear of the head of the wearer. This construction will permit a more uniform configuration of the cap on diil'erent heads than is possible with caps 'at present in use, and this cap can readily be formed into a small package and positioned within a helmet or other article.

What I claim is:

h l. A cap comprising an expansible crown formed of a single piece of elongated'rnaterial folded upon itself and stitched together along the front, rear and through the longitudinal center, a rim integral with said crown and foldable to a position encompassing the lower portion ofsaid crown, and short lengths of stitching extending through the front, and rear por- "tions'of said crown, said short lengths of stitchtions, the space between the inner convergent ends of said stitchings providing "an expandible crown portion, and a reversible rim integral with the loweredge of said crown.

v 3. A cap comprising 'a crown formed of a single piece of elongated material having a truncated triangular configuration, said crown including opposed pairs of folded spaced apart portions, opposed pairs of upwardly convergent stitchings extending through saidfolded portions,

the space between the inner convergent ends of said stitchings providing an expandible crown portion a reversible rim integral with the lower edge of said crown, and ear muffs, carried by one side of said rim.

4. A cap comprising a crown formed of a single piece of elongated material having a truncated triangular configuration, saidcrown including opposed pairs of foldedspaced apart portions, opposed pairs of upwardly convergent stitchings extending through said folded portions,

the space between the inner convergent ends of'said stitchings providing an expandible crown portion, a reversible rim integral with the'lower edge of said crown, and a flexiblelvisori'secured to the inner portion of'said rim and concealable between the rim and the crown,

5. A cap comprising a crown formed of a singlepieoe of elongated material having a truncated triangular configuration, said crown including opposed pairs of folded spaced apart portions, opposed pairs of upwardly convergent stitchings extending through said folded portions, the space between the inner convergent ends of said stitchings providing an expandible crown portion, a pair of pocket forming members secured toone side of said rim, and ear muff elements engaging between said rim in said pocket forming members.

6. A cap comprising a crown formed of a single piece of elongated material having a truncated triangular configuration, said crown including opposed pairs of folded spaced apart portions, opposed pairs of upwardly convergent stitchings extending through said folded portions, the space between the inner convergent ends of said stitchings providing an expandible crown portion, a reversible rim integral with the lower edge of said crown, pairs of straps secured to one side of said rim, an ear mufi member engaging between a pair of said straps and said rim, and releasable holding means for said ear mufi member.

'7. A cap comprising a crown formed of a single piece of elongated material having a trimcated triangular configuration, said crown including opposed pairs of folded spaced apart portions, opposed pairs of upwardly convergent stitchings extending through said folded portions, the space between the inner convergent ends of said stitchings providing an expandible crown portion, a

reversible rim integral with the lower edge of said crown, ear muffs carried by one side of said rim, and a flexible visor secured to the inner portion of said rim and concealab-le between the rim and the crown.

8. Amp comprising a crown formed of a single piece of material, a rim integral with said crown, said crown folded upon itself and stitched together by vertical extending front and rear lines of stitching, a longitudinal stitching extending across the top of the crown and connecting said front and rear stitchings, and plait forming means carried by said crown inwardly of and parallel with said longitudinal stitching,

9. A cap comprising a crown formed of a single piece of material, a rim integral with said crown,

said crown folded upon itself and stitched together by vertical extending front and rear lines of stitching, a longitudinal stitching extending across the top of the crown and connecting said front and rear'stitchings, plait forming means carried by said crown inwardly of and parallel with said longitudinal stitching, and opposed pairs of stitchings through said crown inwardly of said first stitchings, the members of each pair of stitchings being spaced apart at their inner ends to thereby provide an intermediate expandible portion. I

THERON W. JOHNSON, 

